'Boiler Bytes 14' showing today on BTN

October 27, 2010

Macho, a 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd shown here with his handler, officer Gabe Argerbright, is the newest addition to the Purdue University police force. Macho is trained in explosives detection and joins Nicky, a Dutch shepherd trained in narcotics detection, on the PUPD roster. (Purdue University photo/Andy Hancock)

A new installment of a Purdue television program featuring Purdue people and programs will premiere today (Oct. 27) on the Big Ten Network.

"Boiler Bytes 14," a 30-minute video news magazine produced by Purdue, will debut at noon on BTN. Another look at "Boiler Bytes 3" will follow at 12:30 p.m. Both programs have student hosts and reporters. The programs are scheduled for repeat showings at 3 and 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

A week later, on Nov. 3 and 4, "Boiler Bytes 13" will be shown again at the same hours, but followed each of those times by "Boiler Nation: Physics on the Road." The Boiler Nation format offers news features in depth.

"Boiler Bytes 14" has five featured segments on these topics:

* Purdue's three Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs and how their 480 students learn leadership development and shape career opportunities. Together, they plan and carry out operations. Also, this year they are celebrating the new Purdue ROTC class ring.

* The campus tour guides, student ambassadors who operate from the Visitor Information Center. They have to know the campus, the University and its recent changes to provide customized tours. And they must walk backward.

* The K-9 corps of the Purdue Police Department -- Macho and Nicky, who are both Dutch shepherds but have different roles for their sniffing prowess. They are reliable and loyal workers who "serve and protect."

* Purdue's three Super Bowl champion quarterbacks -- Len Dawson, Bob Griese and Drew Brees. The three were on campus together over the summer for some celebrating and tale telling.

* Band camp, when the "All-American" Marching Band takes shape a week before fall semester. It's about millions of notes, millions of steps and students as leaders and mentors. It's about passion, precision, intensity, and this year the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And it's all at a university without a music major.

"Boiler Bytes" installments also provide a chance to check on promotional spots for Purdue, Purdue Research Park and the Purdue Alumni Association.

BTN features campus programming from all Big Ten universities, as well as extensive coverage and replays of Big Ten athletics. More is at www.bigtennetwork.com.

BTN is on Boiler TV at Channel 12. In Lafayette-West Lafayette, it is on Comcast at Channel 67 (Channel 958 for HD); on DirecTV on Channel 610; and on DISH Network on Channel 439 (Channel 9500 for HD).